This Day's Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4578, 6 September 1883, Page 2

This Day's Sitting.

The House met at 11 o'clock,

Replying to a question put by Mr Bracken, Mr Johnston said Government saw no reason why ministers of religion should travel free on the train to the Sea-, cliffe Lunatic Asylum for the purpose of visiting patients. — Replying to Mr Holmes, Mr Connolly said it would be inadvisable to employ the Solicitor General to conduct and defend in Wellington actions in which Government was interested, as it would necessitate the maintaining of the regular staff of a lawyers office; the duties of the solicitors were to advise Government on any point of law which might arise, and these were numerous. —Replying to Mr Duncan, Mr Johnston said Government could not pay railway employes wages for the time they were employed as jurors on an inquest case; Government would not supply plate layers with shovels, nor. yet grant them the public holidays usually allowed to public servants. — Replying to Mr Hamlin Mr Rolleston said the subject of placing lights on the beacon at Manukau Heads would be enquired into.—Replying to Mr Kelly, Mr Dick said Bowren's pamphlets on the manufacture of cheese, butter, and bacon, would be distributed over the Colony, amongst those interested in the subject.— Replying to Mr W. White, Mr Johnston said Government would see what could be done for the unemployed petitioning for work ; Government was not aware that workmen from the Addingtoa railway shops had been engaged repairing the Catalonia. Prisopers from Lyttelton and Addington had been employed at these shops, doing certain work ;J but the amount was very trifling. To satisfy objections made by the auditor, Major Atkinson moved that the fares of members and their wives residing more to an three miles from the seat of Government for their attendance at Parliament be paid. The House divided —Ayes, 29; noes, 15. The House went into Committee of Ways and Means, when the usual resolution, preparatory to the Appropriation Bill, was adopted. On being re-« ported to the House, and the motion to introduce the Appropriation Bill being made, Mr Smith oomplained of the treatment private members' business had met with at the hands of Government. At an | early period of the session they took away one of the private members' days, and literally deprived them of any time whati ever.—Major Atkinson replied that in efiect members had three days for work for their private business in addition to the two days specially set aparfc for them. They had liberally availed themselves of the Order Paper for questions, motions, and for bringing forward their grievances. In going into Committed of Supply, monopolising s,s they did so mjuoh time, it would be impossible to go on with the Government business at all unless some restrictions were made.—Sir G. Grey, in a long speech, impugned the general policy of the Government and moved, as an am.end.ment that the resolutions of the Committee of Ways and Means be not agreed to until a copy of the agreement between Government and the Bank of New Zealand is laid on the tables Latee, 3 p.m. Major Atkinson has states that the Treasury dqes not possess a copy 6f the original agreement made with the Bank of New Zealand when that Bank first commenced to keep the Government account, but that he had applied to the Bank to try and prqcure a copy of it. This is the agreement which Sir George Grey wants. Sir Geo. Grey's amendment was negatived. The Appropriation Bill was brought in and read a second time.